Apps for Good

Encouraging young people to use technology to tackle problems for social good.

Apps for Good provides free courses for teachers to use in their classrooms. The course content helps 10-18 year-olds to build mobile apps and IoT (Internet of Things) products. Expert volunteers support teachers, inspire students, and offer real-world experience in the classroom.

Iris Lapinski

Iris is Founder and CEO at Apps for Good and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

"Our students are given the opportunity to create apps that make a difference and solve real-life issues that matter to them and their community. It gives them a launchpad into social enterprise and the exciting world of technology, design and innovation."

Iris Lapinski, Founder & CEO, Apps for Good

The challenge

Many children are consumers of technology; Apps for Good encourages them to become makers of technology. Many young people also have great ideas for life-changing apps but lack access to the necessary skills and training to turn their concepts into reality.

The aim of the project

Apps for Good encourages young people in the classroom to build mobile apps and IoT (Internet of Things) products to help tackle social problems. The programme equips young people with the confidence and skills they need to go out and make a difference to the world. It also focuses on addressing the gender gap in tech and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) encouraging more young women to pursue careers in a workforce that is still lacking diversity.

Delivered within the school curriculum or as after school clubs, Apps for Good provides young people with useful, hands-on understanding of the technology market and product design, as well as the opportunity to develop valuable entrepreneurial and transferable skills. This enables them to launch their careers and potentially help transform their communities.

Positive outcomes

100,000 students have taken part in 1000 schools in 40 countries across the world since 2010. Nominet Trust funding helped programme organisers to develop an online open-source education platform, allowing UK and international organisations to run their own Apps for Good courses.